Package



Dec. 27, 1988.

K. E. PRINDLE PACKAGE Filed Nov. 27, 1937 x4/ L W? VENTOI.

ATTORNEY.

the wrapper.

Patented Dec. 2 7, 1938 PACKAGE Karl E. Prindle, Shaker HeightsQOhio, assignor to The Dobe'ckmun Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application November 27, 1937, Serial No. 176,887

,I 5 Claims.

This invention relates to packages, and particularly to wrapped packages having means associated with the wrapper, whereby the wrapper may be manually removed expeditiously and with great facility and ease.

Today, numerous products are wrapped in moistureproof regenerated cellulose sheeting sold under the trade name uCellophane" in order to retain said materials in their original fresh statef To secure this objective, it is necessary to seal Due to the nature of the moistureproof regenerated cellulose, the opening or the removal of the sealed wrapper t'o permit access to the contents of the package is somewhat difiicult. Very often it becomes necessary to use some auxiliary device, such as for example, a.

knife to sever the sealed wrapper. Such a manner of removing the wrapper to obtain access to the contents of the package is inconvenient and highly undesirable.

Recently, there has been devised a package wrapped in moistureproof regenerated cellulose sheeting and provided with means purporting to permit easy severance and removal of the wrapper. This means comprises a rip-string formed of a narrow strip of regenerated cellulose. It is disposed intermediate the wrapper and the contents and has one end thereof projecting through the longitudinal seam of the wrapper on the package to constitute a pull-tab. To remove the wrapper, the pull-tab is pulled rearwardly. Be-

cause cut edges of regenerated cellulose are relatively sharp, it is intended that the edge of the rip-string will cut or sever the wrapper.

The aforementoned rip-string very often failed' in use. Instead of the edge of the rip-string severing the wrapper, the edge of the wrapper material at the longitudinal seam severed the ripstring, with the consequence that the intended function of the rip-string Was not obtained. Also,

very often the rip-string was broken prior lto use due to the formaton of a crack therein.

I have found that I'can overcome the abovementioned disadvantages and defects by providing a rip-strip constructed in the manner hereinafter fully described and which, due to details of construction thereof, will not fail in its intended function.

It is -therefo1'e an object of this invention to provide a wrapped package having associated therewith means whereby the wrapper may be severed or removed expeditiously and with great facility and ease to permit access to the contents. Another object of this invention is to provide a wrapped package having a rip-strip which, by

virtue of its construction, will not fail in its desired function.

Other and additional objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package embodying the principlesiof this invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the lines 2-2 of Figure 1; and 1 Figure 3 is an enlarged exaggerated perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a rip-strip constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, the reference numeral I designates a wrapped package, containing the principles of this invention, and comprising a package 2 containing the desired contents (not shown) and a wrapper 3` go therearound being formed of moistureproof regenerated cellulose, such as moistureproof Cellophane". The wrapper 3 may be wrapped around the package 2 in any well-known manner. In the form shown, the wrapper 3 consists of end folds 4 and a lapped seam 5, the latter preferably being adjacent to the edge 6 of the package. The end folds 4, and, preferably although not necessarily, the seam 5 are securely and tightly sealed. Ask shown in the dra-Wing; at least the upper ply 30 of the seam 5 has a continuous straight edge. Between the package 2 and the wrapper 3 there is provided a rip-strip '1, which is preferably of a length so that it will at least completely encompass the package 2, having one end 8 thereof passng between the plies constituting the longitudinal seam in the wrapper and projecting therefrom to constitute a pull-tab.

The construction of the rip-strip 'l the essential' features of this invention. it is formed of a laminated materialv which is strong and rugged and in which the plies or laminae are coextensive. vIn one form of'the invention, the superposed laminae Sand IO are formed of relatively narrow strips of transparent moistureproof regenerated cellulose adhesively secured together through the medium of an adhesive II. In another embodiment of the invention, the superposed laminae 9 and IO are formed of relatively narrow strips of transparent cellulose acetate. In still another embodiment of the invention, the lamina 9 is formed of a. relatively narrow strip of transparent moistureproof regenerated cellulose and the lamina III is formed 'and i/ of an inch or more. and. preferably, ii. of

an inch.

In many cases it is desired to make the ripstrip 'I so that it will become apparent at even a mere casual glance. With this inkview, I prefer to have the rip-strip 'I stand out prominently as by making it of an appropriate and attractive color. 'I'hough various means may be usedofor producing the colored rip-strlp, I prefer to color the same by employing an appropriately colored adhesive which secures the laminae 9' and Ill together. Due to the transparency of the laminae 9,and III, the colored adhesive will impart its color to the product. By this manner of producing a colored rip-strip, .I obtain a colored product which is substantially permanent, does not change its shade. and does not in any `way come in contact with the package.

The adhesive II employed for securing the laminae 9 and Ill together is of a type which, when set, is capable of bending without cracking and capable of forming a firin bond between said larninae.

As illustrative examples .of adhesives which have given satisfactory results may be mentioned the following:

1. A plastic resin (natural or Synthetic) of the requisite degree of tackiness;

2. A resin (natural or synthetic) and a plasticizer; and

3. A resin (natural or Synthetic) a plasticizer and a cellulose derivative, such as nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose ethers, etc.

If desired, in each of the foregoing examples a small quantity of an appropriate volatile solvent may be included.

To produce the colored adhesive, an appropriate pigment is incorporated in the selected adhesive composition. Hereafter are set forth several illustrative pigments which will produce the named color:

Pigment Color Titanium oxide White. Lead chromate- Yellow. Chromic oxidc. Green. Bronze 1ow(ler Gold. Aluminum powder Silver.

The quantity of pigment employed is sufiicient to impart the desired opacity and color to the adhesive. Usually, I have found that the desired opacity and color are secured when the pigment constitutes from 10% to 40% of the other ingredients constituting the adhesive composition.

Though the preferred embodiment' contemplates the use of a colored adhesive to produce the colored strip, the latter can be secured by using appropriately dyed or pigment-colored laminae. In this embodiment, the adhesive may be colored or not as desired.

When a transparent uncolored rip-strip is desired, this is secured by using uncolored transparent materials for the plies and an uncolored adhesive of the type previously mentioned.

To produce the rip-strip 1, sheets of the materials to constitute the laminae 9 and ID are adhesively secured together by means of a thin layer of the selected adhesive in any well-known manner. After the sheets` have been laminated,

the laminatedmaterial is cut into strips of the appropriate width and length.

In the production of the rip-strip 'I when moistnreproofl regenerated cellulose is to constitute one or both plies,that variety which is from .001 to .0015 inch in thickness is preferably used. When cellulose acetate is toconstitute one oi' both piies, that variety which is .0088 to .0120

inch in thickness is preferably used. The total thickness of the strip istherefore the sum of the thicknesses of the plies used plusuapproximately 10% thereof (the thickness of the adhesive) The rip-strip 'I, due to its thickness as above describedmakes the tab 8 capable of being very easily gripped by the 'flngers. wrapper 3, the tab 8 is pulled rearwardly. The

i longitudinal edges of the strip 'I cut or sever the material of the wrapper 3. Due to'the laminated structure, the longitudinal edge of the rip-strip 1 is very strong an'd rugged and will not fall in its function. Because; the longitudinal edge is Stronger than the material constituting the wrapper, the course of ieast resistance will be followed and the wrapper severed. Also, in the eventone lof the lamina becomes broken, nevertheless, the

other lamina would still be able to function. Still further, if for any ,reason whatsoever one of the laminae of the rip-strip 'I should fail, nevertheless the other lamina would still be able to function. A

The rip-strip 'I may be disposed at any place intermediate the top and bottom of the package. Usually, it is positioned adjacent the top of the package. The seaiing of the seam 5 will serve to vanchor the strip 'I in place. If this is insufilcient,

v very broadly. It may comprise a container formed of any material or it may be an already paper or otherwise wrapped package,'or it may be the contents of the final package itself.

In the preferred form of the invention, the wrapper 3 is described as formed of moistureproof regenerated cellulose. It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to such. a wrapper and that it can be used with other wrappers, such as those formed of non-fibrous substances, such as cellulose acetate, cellulose' ethers, regenerated cellulose, rubber hydrochloride, etc.

Since it is obvious that various changes and modiflcations may be made in the above description without departing from the nature or spirit thereof, this invention is not restricted thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

I -claimz 1. A package having a sealed wrapper formed of l a transparent non-fibrous material, said wrapper having a lapped seam in which at least the upper ply has a continuous straight edge, and a pull-strip associated therewith whereby the wrapper may be severed to' permit access to .the contents of said package. said pull-strip having a portion thereof projecting beyond said seam to constitute a pull-tab and comprising a rela- 'I'o open the ioz tively narrow laminated material in which each of the laminae is formed of a narrow strip of a non-flbrous material, said laminae being adhesively secured together at the juxtaposed adjacent surfaces thereof, the longitudinal edges of said pull-strip severing the wrapper when said pull-strip is pulled rearwardly.

2. A package having a sealed wrapper formed of a transparent non-fibrous material, said wrapper having a lapped seam in which at least the upper ply has a continuous straight edge, and a pull-strip associated therewith whereby the wrapper may be severed to permit access to the contents of said package, said pull-strip having a portion thereof projecting beyond said seam to constitute a pull-tab and comprising a relatively narrow laminated material in which each of the laminae is formed of a narrow strip of a normally transparent non-fibrous material, said laminae being adhesively secured together at the juxtaposed adjacent surfaces thereof by a colored adhesive, the longitudinal edges of said pull-strip severing the wrapper when said pullstrip is pulled rearwardly.

3. A package having a sealed wrapper formed of a transparent non-fibrous material, said wrapper having a lapped seam in which at least the upper ply has a continuous straight edge, and a pull-strip associated therewith whereby the wrapper may be severed to permit access to the contents of said package, said pull-strip,

having a portion thereof projecting beyond said seam to constitute a pull-tab and comprising a. relatively narrow lamnated material in which each of the laminae is coextensive with the other and formed of a narrow strip of a normally transparent non-fibrous material, said laminae being adhesivelyv secured together at the juxtaposed adjacent surfaces thereof by a colored adhesive, the longitudinal edges of said pull-strip severing the wrapper when said pull-strip is pulled rearwardly.

4. A package having a sealed wrapper formed of a transparent non-fibrous material, said wrapper having a lapped' seam in which at least the upper ply has a continuous straight edge, and a pull-strip associated therewith whereby the wrapper may be severed to permit access to the contents of said package, said pull-strip having a. portion thereof projecting beyond said seam` to constitute a pull-tab and comprising a relatively narrow laminated material in which each of the laminae is formed of a narrow strip of a normally transparent non-fibrous material, at least one of said laminae being formed of cellulose acetate, said laminae being adhesively secured together at the juxtaposed adjacent surfaces thereof by a colored adhesive, the longitudinal edges of said pull-strip severing the wrapper when said pull-strip is pulled rearwardly.

5. A package having a sealed wrapper formed of a transparent non-fibrous material, said wrapper having a lapped seam in which at least the upper ply has a continuous straight edge, and a pull-strip associated therewith whereby the wrapper may be severed to permit access to the contents of said package, said pull-strip having a portion thereof projecting beyond said seam to constitute a pull-tab and comprising a relatively narrow laminated material in which each of the laminae is formed of a narrow strip of.a normally transparent non-fibrous material, at least one of. said laminae being formed of regenerated cellulose,'said laminae being. adhesively secured together at the juxtaposed adjacent surfaces thereof by a colored adhesive, the longitudinal edges of said pull-strip severing the wrapper when said pull-strip is pulledl rearwardly.

KARL E. PRINDLE. 

